Rounding out our SEMA coverage for the week, Chrysler Group also has a custom Jeep Patriot on display. Built by the Chrysler Tech Center Vehicle Build Shops, it looks disturbingly similar to the spy shots of the next-generation Liberty.

Trail-rated and designed to maximize the capability of the most off-road worthy vehicle in its class. Custom suspension lift raises the suspension 2.5 inches over stock-ride height and provides over 11 inches of ground clearance – to make way for the 31-inch BFG Mud Terrain tires on 16-inch Jeep Moab rims supplied by Prime Wheel. The front fascia is replaced by a custom steel bumper designed to protect the front end while allowing for as much tire exposure as possible. Custom roof rack ensures there’s plenty of storage for any occasion. Auxiliary lighting brightens any dark trails.

Here is what I don't understand, THAT is exactly what the standard production version of the Patriot should look like on the dealer lot. Cool roof rack, black wheels, offroad tires and all. The Patriot should look like that and the Compass shouldn't even be on the Jeep lots!

But the Compass is there, and the Patriot will look nothing like this in stock form which is a shame. Also, this with the V6 and a more offroad suspension and you wouldn't even need the next generation Liberty/ shoud be Cherokee either.

I wasn't talking about serious offroading, just the more aggressive look with the black grill and wheels and better tires, whether MT or AT. That little bit extra makes the Patriot look 1000% better.

Still it wouldn't take much modding to have that so the Patriot will probably be ok and a worthy entry level 4 cyl Jeep. ....& since the Patriot will be a worthy entry level Jeep, there won't be any more need for the Pontiac Compass so DC can hopefully end it's production after half a year.

Disturbingly similar? I don't know that I would say "disturbingly", but definitely similar. I was just having this discussion with my brother-in-law, who works at DC. He asked me if I had seen a Mercedes. I said, "Which Mercedes?""Any Mercedes," he said. "There's a big Mercedes, a medium Mercedes and a little Mercedes. And who was running Mercedes?""Dr. Z?""Yup. Dr. Z. And who was driving Jeep when these vehicles were designed? Dr. Z. Now we have a big Commander, a medium Commander (Liberty) and a small Commander (Patriot)."

It's been a year and the Commander still doesn't look quite right to me. I understand what they were shooting for, but I'd say they missed the mark. It's something about the headlights and grille. They Patriot is closer. The Chrysler Compass isn't even in the family.Also, they should have given the Commander 3rd row another 4 more inches... Heck, we can all use another 4 inches ;) ;) nudge, nudge, know what i mean?

Jeeps are odd little vehicles that never look right when they come out. They have to grow on you.

I wasn't sure I liked the Commander when it came out, but now I own a brand new one. I didn't like the Liberty when it first came out but now (especially the last Renegade model) I think it looks okay. I still am not a fan of the headlamps / front end on the WK but the rest of the vehicle is very nice. The cheesey rear and front bumpers on the new JK/JKL bothers me but those are quickly replaced with an aftermarket option to reveal a sexy little vehicle.

I don't like the Compass either but a lot of that is not only unattractive and is basically an AWD car, but also because it doesn't come close to the original concept vehicle which was a pretty cool little rally vehicle. Had they built it like the original concept (not the Frankfurt one) with good ground clearance and the agressive look Jeep would have had a hit on their hands.

The Patriot is the new cheap Jeep now that the stripped down Wrangler is gone. It is good to see this lifted SEMA vehicle because hopefully it will help drive a decent aftermarket. In no way will a vehicle like the Patriot be able to keep up with a Wrangler as far as rock crawling goes, but it should do pretty decent on the trails with the low range option and a lift kit like this. For the price it would make a good daily commuter and weekend trail runner.

AEVs Commander concept for last year's SEMA has driven at least 3 other manufacturers (not including AEV and Superlift) to develop lift kits for the Commander.

The Commander and Liberty are both too "thick" in the passenger compartment. An average-sized adult still has 6" of headroom in one. They look like someone took a Jeep and tried pulling the top off to no avail.

As far this vehicle getting a facelift, for those people who like the commander headlight cluster, this vehicle has the same shape as the commanders. Maybe the aftermarket will make a mini commander facelift for the patriot. *nudge*

"Built by the Chrysler Tech Center Vehicle Build Shops, it looks disturbingly similar to the spy shots of the next-generation Liberty."

Hardly! The spy shots of the next-generation Liberty looks similar to the Commander (except the spy shots show Ford Explorer-like tail lights).

The Patriot is much smaller, doesn't have a solid rear axle, has round headlights (versus the KK's which are shaped like the XK's), is shorter in height. Their only real similarities are just traditional Jeep design cues like a seven slot grille and trapezoidal wheel openings.